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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
"Nothing so aggravates an earnest person as a passive resistance."
There's a LOT in this to read into. The lawyer-boss - is he generous, selfish, or both? Bartleby - why are you refusing, sorry, *preferring* not to work? No one is outright abusing you. The employer isnt mean or cruel, in fact he's willing to take you on as a charity. The other employees will work, but we'll ignore their personal vices. But are they vices or a way to just get through the day?
The antagonist of the story is within the subtitle of the story, "A Story of Wall Street," and it's as silent in the story as Bartleby. The cruel monotony of The System and how it is accepted as normal. And Bartleby resists with a quiet, offensive resistance that (to me) says, "I would rather die than partake in this soul-crushing cubicle and gluttony of capitalism."
There's a LOT in this to read into. The lawyer-boss - is he generous, selfish, or both? Bartleby - why are you refusing, sorry, *preferring* not to work? No one is outright abusing you. The employer isnt mean or cruel, in fact he's willing to take you on as a charity. The other employees will work, but we'll ignore their personal vices. But are they vices or a way to just get through the day?
The antagonist of the story is within the subtitle of the story, "A Story of Wall Street," and it's as silent in the story as Bartleby. The cruel monotony of The System and how it is accepted as normal. And Bartleby resists with a quiet, offensive resistance that (to me) says, "I would rather die than partake in this soul-crushing cubicle and gluttony of capitalism."
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
but thus it often is, that the constant friction of illiberal minds wears out at last the best resolves of the more generous.
i’m a legal assistant and my attorney and paralegal recommended this to me so i think it hits different
lot of love for bartleby
i’m a legal assistant and my attorney and paralegal recommended this to me so i think it hits different
lot of love for bartleby
"La felicidad busca la luz, por eso nos parece que el mundo es alegre; pero el sufrimiento se esconde, por eso nos parece que no existe"
I read this because another book I am started references to this one as the first office-type drama ever penned. It was puzzling and funny.I would love to go to work and start telling my boss "I prefer not to" and see if I get away with it.
I can understand why the Occupy movement took to this book so well. The titular character after a while does nothing but occupy his chosen workplace, in a sort of calm refusal to acquiesce to anyone's demands that would be the envy of any peaceful protester. There is a certain elegance to Bartleby's constant response of 'I would prefer not to' to any demand made of him, especially when it not only makes those who talk to him respect his wishes, but even causes the word 'prefer' to crop up more in their speaking. It's also necessary to note that the event that caused this persistent occupancy was the abrupt termination of Bartleby's previous employment, something many of the Occupy protesters can relate to. All in all, I liked this story for beautifully demonstrating the sometimes startlingly powerful effects of peaceful protest, as well as being a prime example of words written long ago being still very much applicable today.
Also this book gave me hope for reading Moby Dick; Melville's writing is much more engaging than I had assumed.
Also this book gave me hope for reading Moby Dick; Melville's writing is much more engaging than I had assumed.
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Bartleby is the blank canvas for all of our despair.
This brilliant story blends absurdist and existential elements almost 100 years before Camus & Kafka strode the page. Not surprised this story came from Melville—his Moby Dick is one of my favorite books. Both the book and this story express an enveloping darkness. Both have lots of funny moments but they diminish as the light to nourish them is choked out. Both have a title character that seem to be blank canvases. They exist only for the reader or other characters to project elements of themselves upon that canvas. The main character of each is actually the narrator. In Moby Dick, he famously declares his name. Since the name is biblical, an archer standing in for a harpooner, in a book heavy with religious themes it may not be a real name. In Bartleby, the main character remains unnamed allowing him to stand in for many of his type. In both the story and the book, the business world chugs along uncaring of the fates of those involved.
Particularly in Bartleby, The Scrivener—Melville focuses upon the inability of those involved in business to deal with the human element. To quote THE SIMPSONS, “We’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas.” The lawyer tries to help Bartleby, but his narration makes it clear he is only simulating what he thinks is a human interaction. His only real concern is, with false modesty, growing his law practice. Bartleby could be seen as the human part of ourself that withers away as less humane pursuits become our focus.
Bartleby is the blank canvas for all of our despair—and he pays for it.
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
reflective
fast-paced